Sorry if this was discussed in detail before, as I am quite horrible at finding my way around here … but …

Just wondering what others are doing to prevent Heartworms and as a tick preventative.  We live in an area of high Lyme Disease & Heartworms, and I'm trying to find less harsh products to use this year.

I see in a forum post from last year (Flea and Tick Prevention/Management) Defendex from VETiONX was mentioned as a natural solution to fleas, lice, ticks, mange, and all other kinds of parasitic bugs.  Did anyone try this … or anything else?

I, also, read an article (Battling Fleas, Ticks, & Mosquitoes: Pet Health Care or Billion Dollar Pet Industry?) posted in the nutrition section that stated, "In conclusion remember this: a healthy animal is NOT an attractive host to either parasites or disease."  So, again, I'm curious as to what others are doing, since most of our pets are not healthy and are battling cancer, going through chemo, etc … 

Is anyone still giving the monthly Heartworm preventative?  When we got Harley from the pound, he had Heartworms, and we don’t want to go through treating him for that, again.  

Holly still gets her monthly heartworm preventative meds (Sentinel is the one she gets).  Her vet didn't want her to stop these, since he felt the risks of getting heartworm or parasites would be too big given the other stuff she's dealing with now.

And funny you should ask about ticks – she had her first tick about a week ago.  That scared me – the last think she needs is Lyme disease on top of os!!  The vet said the timing for her next bloodwork is good – so he'll add a test for Lyme disease when he draws blood to see if we need to start her on antibiotics.

I am still giving Magic heartworm (in fact as I type this he is swallowing the last of it) and have decreased the amount since he decreased his weight!!  I asked the vet about his frontline and the vet said no problem so that is what I am doing…I also used to put Advantage on OJ, but since he has taken to crawling under the covers and there is a two day period after applying the advantage that he has this awful spot on his neck then it disappears, I have slacked off on him.  Hopefully we can keep a handle on the fleas with just Magic being treated…if not, I'll start with OJ again also.  I used Advantage through the three years of chemo with OJ.  I hope I am not making a mistake with leaving it off OJ because I have had a flea infestation and don't ever ever ever want to go through that again in my whole life…ever.  Did I make it clear that a flea infestation is not something I ever want to do again??

I know there are other ways to do it, but this seems the least stressful for all of us since Magic (gasp) has never had a bath in 11 years….can you see me trying to start that NOW????  And poor OJ, I have to do so many unpleasant things that involve sticking him with something every day, I think   doing a flea dip would send him on the road looking for a new home (HA…fat chance)

I have to think that if they did titer tests on all of the older dogs, they may have all the protection they need if they have been receiving regular vaccines….I just got a notification (bless computers….) that Magic was ready for some vaccine…I shall have to ask cuz frankly, I don't remember that one so it may be called something else that I can remember!!  No reason for them to send a card if we HADN'T been giving it!!

I don't have to worry about the rabies this year thank goodness…we are still under protection of whatever year we are in!  I don't care at this point, just that I don't have to stress over to give or not to give.

Don't worry about overthinking – I overthink, overworry, overtalk, overpost, and here is the place to get it all fixed and better!!